Very true. Chrissy. This is why the survey doesn't require much beyond reporting that there was a problem, and a repair, and whether or not the problem went away following the repair.

For detailed information about a particular issue, I'd perform research in a forum like this one.

We've updated the results for the Focus to include owner experiences through June 30, 2010.

Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 19, better than average

2008: 57, about average

2007: 70, about average

2006: 71, about average

2005: 58, about average

2004: 50, better than average, very small sample size

2003: 96, about average

2002: 93, about average

2001: 117, about average, one response short of the minimum for a full result

2000: 125, about average

Now very consistent from year to year, because more participants and more data per car.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years.